clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

TNIAAM ACC Basketball Power Rankings: Week 2

Power rankings... because it's fun to assign rankings to things, especially when those numbers don't matter.

Streeter Lecka

Each week, the TNIAAM basketball staff will be ranking all 15 ACC teams in a completely subjective manner, just like everyone else on the internet does. Feel like we're completely off base? Can it Chime in with your own ACC power rankings below.

***

Everyone's played one or two games so far. And despite the small-ish sample size, it seems the staff's a bit conflicted about every team (except Syracuse and Duke, that is). Below, you'll find the subjective numbers we assigned to every team in the ACC, followed by the less-than-humorous commentary I provide. Enjoy!

Interested in seeing the individual voter breakdown? Check out the Google Doc here!

1. Duke Blue Devils (1-1) (0-0) (Last Week: 1)

Last Week: W, 111-77 over Davidson; L, 94-83 to Kansas

Highest Position: 1; Lowest Position: 3

Duke's offense looks stellar thus far, scoring over 80 points in each of their first two games, but the defense? That might become an issue over time. Yes, the Davidson game was a blowout, and they understandably allowed 94 to Kansas, but until the Blue Devils play more games, those are the totals we're dealing with. Jabari Parker's legit, though. Let's also be sure to note that.

2. Syracuse Orange (2-0) (0-0) (LW: 2)

Last Week: W, 82-60 over Colgate; W, 89-74 over Fordham

Highest Position: 1; Lowest Position:3

Playing partial-halves of games is something Syracuse fans are used to with this team, so the results of the first two games were not surprising at all. The Orange look pretty sound on D, while the offense is also cranking -- now it's just a question of who this squad's leader is going to be? Even if not a go-to scorer, they'll need someone calling the shots down the stretch. Could be anyone right now.

3. North Carolina Tar Heels (1-0) (0-0) (LW: 3)

Last Week: W, 84-61 over Oakland

Highest Position: 2; Lowest Position: 6

UNC's only played one game, and it was a predictable demolition of Oakland. It wasn't special or anything, though. Just run of the mill. And if there's one thing they'll need to improve upon going forward, it's going to be free throws. Shooting 65 percent from the line might work in a no-pressure game, but no way it cuts it in conference play.

4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-0) (0-0) (LW: 5)

Last Week: W, 74-62 over Miami (OH); W, 80-49 over Stetson

Highest Position: 3; Lowest Position:5

Notre Dame appears to be a similarly bruising team to last year's edition, allowing under 65 points to both opponents thus far. Jerami Grant's brother, Jerian, also looks the part of breakout shooter for the Irish, averaging 20.5 points per game so far. It's a seven points-per-game jump from last year, based mainly on his new three-point stroke. Keep an eye on him this season.

5. Virginia Cavaliers (1-1) (0-0) (LW: 4)

Last Week: W, 61-41 over James Madison; L, 59-56 over VCU

Highest Position: 4; Lowest Position: 7

UVa can't score points, which is a bit of an issue right off the bat. Also makes us (Syracuse fans) a little less concerned with them for now. If this offense can't fix itself, and based on last year, it's not going to, it could be a long season in the expanded ACC for the Hoos.

6. Pittsburgh Panthers (2-0) (0-0) (LW: 6)

Last Week: W, 88-55 over Savannah State; W, 75-54 over Fresno State

Highest Position: 4; Lowest Position: 7

Unlike Virginia, it looks like Pitt's put its offensive problems in the past. AND they still know how to rebound very well. Before the season started, we all thought they'd be hampered more than most by the hand-check rules. But instead, their opponents are the ones who've suffered most.

7. Maryland Terrapins (1-1) (0-0) (LW: 7)

Last Week: L, 78-77 to Connecticut; W, 67-44 over Abilene Christian

Highest Position: 6; Lowest Position: 9

Watched the Terps desperately choke away Friday night's game from a bar in Baltimore. Outside of one raving lunatic fan, you wouldn't even know Maryland was on every television in the place. And most folks there were wearing Terps gear. So that's twice you proved yourselves to be less-than-impressive last weekend, Maryland fans.

8. Florida State Seminoles (2-0) (0-0) (LW: T-8)

Last Week: W, 91-67 over Jacksonville; W, 80-68 over UCF

Highest Position: 6; Lowest Position: 10

Okaro White's looking like a double-double machine, which means things could be looking up for Florida State. Of all the teams in the middle of the conference, they did appear to be the one with the largest gap between best- and worst-case scenarios. Right now, they may be trending toward the best-case.

9. NC State Wolfpack (1-1) (0-0) (LW: 10)

Last Week: W, 98-77 over Appalachian State; L, 68-57 to Cincinnati

Highest Position: 8; Lowest Position: 10

On the one hand, scoring nearly 100 points against anyone is great. On the other, losing by 11 to Cincinnati (even on the road), doesn't exactly inspire confidence either. State was seen as a middle-of-the-road squad and this start seems to confirm that.

10. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2-0) (0-0) (LW: 13)

Last Week: W, 89-78 over Colgate; W, 98-71 over VMI

Highest Position: 8; Lowest Position: 13

Wake, you did what you were supposed to do. And for that, you're rewarded with a slight bump in our subjective rankings system. Seeing the Deacs smoke VMI also reminded me of those few seasons when the Keydets scored over 90 points per game a couple years back. I'd like to see a major conference team try the same type of run-and-gun offense someday.

11. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-0) (0-0) (LW: 12)

Last Week: W, 88-57 over Presbyterian; W, 68-50 over Delaware State

Highest Position: 10; Lowest Position: 13

Georgia Tech also did what they were supposed to do, but then forgot how to score while up against Delaware State. The Hornets aren't a good team at all, but you can never infer much about these bodybag non-conference games. I mean, SU struggled to beat Detroit last year and they ended up in the Final Four.

12. Miami Hurricanes (1-1) (0-0) (LW: 11)

Last Week: L, 66-62 (OT) to St. Francis (NY); W, 81-80 over Georgia Southern

Highest Position: 9; Lowest Position: 15

Everyone else had more faith in the 'Canes, but I dropped them SO far for this dreadful opening week. No one loses to St. Francis, and beating Georgia Southern by a single point might as well be a loss. All those predictions that Miami would struggle this season? Sounds pretty accurate to me.

13. Clemson Tigers (2-0) (0-0) (LW: 14)

Last Week: W, 71-51 over Stetson; W, 58-37 over Delaware State

Highest Position: 8; Lowest Position: 15

Another team simply doing what they're supposed to do -- though is Delaware State's defense actually pretty good, since it held both Clemson and Georgia Tech under 70 points? Also of note: the Tigers are not crashing the boards incredibly well, which is disconcerting when you look at the quality (or lack thereof) of their opponents thus far.

14. Boston College Eagles (0-2) (0-0) (LW: T-8)

Last Week: L, 82-78 to Providence (OT); L, 86-73 to UMass

Highest Position: 8; Lowest Position: 15

Boston College was thought of as a potential bubble team this season, and after two losses to other bubble teams, it's hard to tell if that's changed or not. The only thing that really hurts here is that the Eagles have fallen below two regional rivals in terms of bragging rights, which could end up hurting on the recruiting trail. At this point, they're likely fifth in New England (at best) behind UConn (Ed note: added!), Harvard, UMass and Providence, if not others as well.

15. Virginia Tech Hokies (1-1) (0-0) (LW: 15)

Last Week: L, 64-63 to SC Upstate; W, 87-82 over West Virginia

Highest Position: 9; Lowest Position: 15

Virginia Tech would contend for the title of "worst power conference team" if not for DePaul and the fact that they also managed to beat West Virginia. But how do you lose to USC Upstate? What even is that? And again: HOW? Plus, just 63 points? Wow.